Air propelled top



Sept 14, 1948. J. R. MoRDAN I 2,449,405

AIR PROPELLED TOP @fly/,bzw Zwin/6711207" x y 4% @Zz-0771695 Sept. 414, 1948. '.J. R. MORDAN 2,449,405

.un PROPELLED ToP Filed Aug. 24, i946 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICEv i A i 251149,405 i p l Ain PRQPELLED TOP Joseph R. Mord'an; Alden, N. Y. Application August `24, 1946. Serial No. 69`2,8? 1- This invention relates to an air-jet propelled top which is `adapted to be spun or turned about its axis either when resting on a surface or when suspended in mid-air. l'

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a top of this character in which the air `for driving the top is stored in an inflatable elastic bag lor container which is adapted to be expanded by forcing air into the same, which air is subsequently discharged from the bag by contraction of the latter in the form of jets which react on the cuter atmosphere and cause the top to revolve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a top of this type which can fbe readily inflated either by blowing air into the same with the mouth or by connecting the same with a source of compressed air.

A further object of this invention is to so construct thetop that the same canbe readily repaired if its bag should burst or any of its parts should be broken. p

A still further object of this invention is to simplify the construction of the top so that the same can be produced at low cost and also enable the same to be easily repaired.

In the accompanying drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the top embodying this invention and showing 'the elastic air storage bag in a deflated condition by full lines and in an inflated condition by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the top with the air bag deflated.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

` Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, showing the means for suspending the top in the air.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8 8, Fig. 7.

In the following description like parts are indicated by the same reference characters in the several figures of the drawings.

In general this air-jet propelled top comprises an inflatable bag or balloon, means whereby the same may be pivotally supported on a surface upon which the top can spin or turn, air inlet means through Ywhich the bag may be inflated,

air `outlet means through which the air is disv 9 claims. (ci. i6-en charged from the bag for the vpurpose of rotating or spinning the top, and suspension means whereby the top may -be lifted from the support and permitted to rotate while suspended in mid 2.11.. Y

The inatable bag I0 of the top is preferably constructed of elastic rubber which in its deflated condition has the general shape of a double-con# vex lens, as represented by full lines in Fig. 1, but when the same` is more or less inated the same has the general shape o-f a sphere, as shown by dotted lines in the same gure.

Centrally on its underside this bag is provided with mean-s whereby the same may rotate or spin on a support and also with check valve means through which air may be supplied under pres'- sure tothe interior of the bagV but return flow from theinterior ofthe bag to the outer atmosphere is prevented, these means being constructed as follows: The numeral II represents a tubular neck of downwardly tapering conical form which projects from the central part of the underside of the inflatable bag, which neck is made of elastic rubber and is integral with the inflatable bag. At its lower end this neck is provided internally with an annular bead which forms an upwardly facing shoulder I2 in the bore of this neck. On its outer side this neck is engaged by a downwardly tapering outer clamping sleevel3 of hard material such as metal or plastic, and

on its inner side the neck is engaged by a downsleeve while its lower part slides in the lower part of this sleeve, and a screw nut II having its central part connected by a screw joint I8 with the lower end of the coupling tube while the marginal part bears against the lower end of the outer clamping sleeve I3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Upon 'tightening this screw nut the upwardly facing shoulder I2 on the neck of the bag is engaged `by a downwardly facing annular shoulder I9 on the lower end of the inner clamping sleeve, thereby connecting these clamping sleeves and the coupling sleeve with the rubber neck and also forming an air tight joint between these members.

The underside of the screw nut l1 is made of downwardly tapering form so that the same terminates in a point so that this nut forms a peg or pivot upon which the top may be supported upon a surface for spinning the same thereon.:Y i -A Y The a'ir `for-inilating `.fthe elastic ybag is introduced into the same through one or more ports `or passages 2| extending from the outer side .of the nut I? to the lower end of the coupling tube l5, thence upward through a valve tube 22 arranged within the coupling tube and thence .into the interior of the inflatable bag. This valve tube forms part of a checklvalve which permits air to enter the bag from the external atmosphere but prevents return flow of the same. This valve tube is preferably connected with the coupling tubeby means of ascrew joint 23 'between `these members and vat its .inner or upper end thisvalve tube `isf-provided with an upwardly 'facing'conical valve seat 2li which is adapted to 'be engaged Joyadownwardly tapering valve closure 25 which is movable toward-and from this .valve seat. uThis closure is guided on the valve tube 'by' means of 4a val-ve stem .2.8 which projects downwardly into the valve tube .andis provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 21 which is adapted to engage with a downwardlyfacing shoulder 2S within the bore of the valve tube 'so as .tolimit the upward .movement of the valve closure.

This .check valve device is similar to those now fcomrnonly.employedintheilling nipples of pneu- .matic tires .and air under pressure for rrllling 'the'.bag may'besupplied either by blowing with 'themouth inwardly through .the passages 21 of "the nut l or by detaching this nut 'from 'the ',-lower end of the coupling tube and temporarily f'connecting .the .latter with an air .pump or any other means for supplying air under pressure. YAfter the bag'has been 'inflated the desired .ex-

j tent 'the .nut I1 is again restored to the lower rend of the coupling tube.

.. .At its upper .end .the-outer clamping sleeve vis providedwith a supportingV disk 29 which is preferably of downwardly dishe'd formandengages with .the .undersidepf .the iniiatable bag, thereby providing .a bearing surface of substantial iarea whereby the inatablei'bag is supported both .inlits deflated andalsofin itsin'ilated condition and maintains @the parts 'in .their proper relative ,position This supporting .diskis preferably-formed in- Ltegrallyl with the .outer .clampingisleeve L3.

lhe` compressed air withinthe bagis discharged therefrom through .outlets .so -that 'the reac- .tion of' ltheescaping air will cause thetop .toro- Ltaterabeutpm vertical axis. 'This is preferably .accomplished by means oftwo outlet nczzlesil which :are constructed of elastic .rubber andprefvverably integrally .with'theirilatablebag ,These ,nozzlesare -arranged tangentially on vdiametri- These clips may be retained on these nozzles .after the bag has been iniiated until such time as it is desired to spin the top and then the removal of these clips from these nozzles will perfmit the latter to again expand due to their resilience and automatically open so that the air is -free -toescape andeause the top to rotate about its axis by the contraction of the resilient bag.

Means are provided whereby this top may rotateor spin about its axis while its peg is lifted 'from a support into `mid-air, these means be- 'ingso constructed that they may be'attachedkto 'and removed from lthe lbag' and Ialso permit the top to rotate independently of the suspension device. Although these suspension means A'maybe variously .constructed the preferred form of the same, as shownin Figs. 1, 7 and 8 are constructed as follows:

'The .numeral 32 represents `an upwardly enlarged'button or 'knob formed integrally on'the upper side of the iniiatable Ybag so as to form attaching means thereon.v This button is enclosed bya cap 33 of metal or similar hard-material lso .as to form an annular downwardly -facing shoulder 3'llwhich corresponds to the shape Of said button.

The numeral '35 represents a hollow coupling head which is detachably mounted on the button and'is provided at its'lower end .with aplurality of elastic jaws or spring armsg vwhich are adapted to be sprung over'the cap 3,3 and into engagement with the downwardly facing :shoulder 34. At it's upper end this head is provided with a. central opening ,3l .and an annular downwardly facingbearing or'ball-race around lsaid opening. Y Y

The numeral 3.9 represents abearing disk arranged within the .central part Yof the coupling .head and provided onits upper side with an upwardly facing .bearing face .or ball-race .14s. "This bearing disk Ais adapted to be .suspended .by means of a cord or line 13| which may eitherbe held in the nhand of theoperator or attached `to a support, the connectionbetween this cord and the disk 39 beingpreferably accomplishedby means of astem or rod '42 projecting upwardly the suspension line'lll and'the inflatable bag `of the top whereby the .top may be supported in Amid-airand'rotate without twistingzthis line. ,If

'itis 'desiredto 'spin thetop on a surface without being lconnected '.to the suspension line fill this may-be 'done byjrstpulling the bearing head andthe parts associated therewith from the cou- Qpling'button Ior knob32, thisjbeing `readily accomplished due to'the resilience .0f the'jaws Lor arms T36.

'As a whole this top provides an" interesting toy which is highly entertaining. It can be very readily inflated by the pressure of air from the mouth of the user and provides an amusing toy for children. Owing to the simplicity of its construction the same can be manufactured at cornparatively low cost and its organization is such that its several parts can be readily replaced particularly the bag which is liable to bust when inilated excessively.

I claim as my invention: i

1. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an elastic inilatable bag provided on its underside with a tubular neck, a peg which is connected with said neck and upon which the bag is adapted to turn, an air inlet valve device mounted on said peg and neck, and means for discharging air tangentially from said bag.

2. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an elastic inflatable bag provided on its underside with a tubular neck, a peg upon which said bag turns arranged below said neck, means for connecting said peg with said neck including an inner sleeve arranged within said neck, and connected with said peg, air inlet valve means arranged within said sleeve, and air outlet means for discharging air tangentially from said bag.

3. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an elastic inilatable bag provided on its underside with a tubular neck, a peg upon which said bag turns arranged below said neck, means for connecting said peg with said neck including an inner sleeve arranged within said neck, a coupling tube arranged within said sleeve and connecting the same with said peg, air inlet valve means arranged within said coupling tube and air outlet means for discharging air tangentially from said bag.

4. An air-jet propelled top comprising an elastic inflatable bag provided on its underside with a downwardly projecting conical tubular neck, a peg arranged below said neck and upon which the top is adapted to spin, means for connecting said peg with said neck including an inner conical sleeve engaging with the inner side of said neck, an outer conical sleeve engaging the outer side of said neck, a coupling tube arranged within said inner sleeve and connected with the same and with said peg, air inlet valve means arranged within said coupling tube, and air outlet means arranged tangentially on said bag.

5. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an elastic inflatable bag provided on its underside with a downwardly projecting conical tu-bular neck, a peg arranged below said neck and upon which the top is adapted to spin, means for connecting said peg with said neck including an inner conical sleeve engaging with the inner side of said neck, an outer conical sleeve engaging the outer side of said neck, a coupling tube arranged within said inner sleeve and connecting the same with said peg and communicating with the outer atmosphere through a passage inisaid peg, air inlet valve means arranged within said coupling tube, and air youtlet means for discharging air tangentially from said bag.

6. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an inilatable bag, air inlet means through which air is introduced into said bag including a neck formed on the underside of said bag, a tube mounted on said neck and a check valve device arranged within said tube, a peg connected with the lower end of said tube and provided with an air passage leading to said tube, and air `outlet means arranged on the periphery of said bag for rotating the top. i

7. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an elastic inilatable bag provided on its underside with a downwardly projecting tubular neck the inner side of which has an annular shoulder, an inner clamping sleeve arranged within said neck and provided with an annular shoulder engaging the shoulder of said neck, an outer clamping sleeve engaging the outer side of said neck, a peg connected with said inner clamping sleeve, air inlet valve means arranged within said inner clamping sleeve, and air outlet means for `discharging air tangentially from said bag.

8. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an elastic inflatable lbag provided on its underside with a downwardly projecting tubular neck, a peg upon which said bag is adapted to spin and which is connected with said neck, air inlet valve means arranged within said neck, a supporting disk mounted on said neck and engaging the underside of said bag, an-d air outlet means for discharging air tangentially from said bag.

9. An air-jet propelled top, comprising an elastic inflatable bag provided on its underside with a downwardly projecting tubular neck, a peg upon which said bag is adapted to spin and which is connected with said neck, air inlet valve means arranged within sai-d neck, an outer sleeve engaging with the outer side of said neck, a downwardly dished disk engaging with the underside of said bag and connected with said outer sleeve, and air outlet means for discharging air tangentially from said bag.

JOSEPH R. MORDAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,594,930 Davis Aug. 3, 1926 1,773,045 Koons Aug. l2, 1930 2,393,796 Mordan Jan. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,717 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1891 

